Clothes-washing machine



July 11 1950 H. LUNDELL,

CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1945 Hilf-ry L1/mieli.

mwis.. WWW

Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLGTHES-WASHINGMACHINE Harry Lundell, Chicago, lll. l

Application May 25, 1945, Serial No. 595,749

This invention relates to an improved washing machine which ispreferably adapted for washing clothes and garments and which, whileoperable by mechanical means under certain circumstances, is here shownas of a hand operated type.

The invention, more speciflcally revealed, has to do with a tub typewasher in which a plunger or reciprocatory pounder is alternately movedup and down in the tub, the head of the pounder being valved to moresatisfactorily agitate and surge the water against and through thefibres of the garments.

More explicitly, I accomplish the end sought through the adoption anduse of a tub including a major or main compartment, this to accommodatethe valved reciprocatory plunger or pounder, said tub being provided'atdiametrically opposite sides with comparatively smaller flutelikeextensions and these constituting spill-ways having valved communicationat their lower portions with the main tub.

Novelty is, therefore, predicated upon the use of a plunger which isprovided with valves, the valves opening on the down stroke, and closingon the up stroke, whereby to trap the water above the plunger and tocarry it over into the end spill-ways, the water returning from thespill ways to the main tub by way of flap valves, and said flap valvesbeing opened by the down rush of water as well as by the suctionproduced thereon through the up stroke of the plunger.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a washing machine constructed inaccordance with the structural principles of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation,this taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1. looking in thedirection of the arrows. l

Figure 3 is a view at right angles, this through one end of thestructure and said view being on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure -1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed view, slightly enlarged, this to showthe ap valve means and being on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, itwill be seen that the 1 claim. (ci. ess-43) principal part of theinvention is the tub. This is of appropriate material and dimensions,and the main or body portion thereof is denoted by the numeral I. In topplan it is generally cylindrical in cross sectional form, being closedat the bottom and open at the top. the diametrically opposite sidesthereof being flattened and having semi-cylindrical extensions 6 alignedtherewith. The extensions are duplicate in construction and are open attheir upper ends and closed at their lower ends. 'I'hese extensions 6constitute the aforementioned spill-ways. Water from the upper chamber 1is carried over into the upper end of the spill-ways by way of thecommunieating passages 8. From these spill-ways the water returns to thelower chamber 9 of the main tub, this by way of check valves. The checkvalves in this instance are in the form of flaps l0, these being hingedin place as at Il. The valves are adapted to swing inwardly into thechamber 9.

The pounder-type plungercomprises a head plate I2 of general disc-likeform having flattened ends i2a in slidable contact with thecorrespondingly proportioned and shaped flattened ends of the main tub.The head is reciprocated up and down by a shaft or rod I3. In thepresent instance, this is a manually operated handle. However, inpractice it could be a shaft driven from a mechanical source of power(not shown). The handle is secured as at Il to the central portion ofthe disc-like head. 'I'he head is provided with equi-distant ports orpassages I5 having disc-like flap valves I6, these arranged on the topof the head plate and being hinged in place on one side. as at thepoints i1.

In Figure 2 I have shown a drain port at the point I8 but this is anoptional feature. That is to say. if such a port is actually provided itwill, of course, be closed by a suitable insertible and removable plug(not shown). However, this port need not be here as the tub can bedrained by dumping, if desired.

In practice the clothes are placed in the water in the main compartment9 and a handle I! of the plunger is moved up and down in the chambers 1and 9. On the down stroke sufllclent pressure is 4exerted against thehead of the body of water to drive water through the articles ofapparel, this in a well known manner. When the plunger is movedupwardly, the flap valves Il are closed and this lifts the column ofwater in the chamber 1 up and it spills over into the spillways B by wayof the discharge or communicatasians way back to the main chamber or tubs by way ci the flap valves it. These are opened partly by downwardpressure of the water against the outer sides and also by the suctionexerted thereagainst as the plunger is lifted up in the chamher a.

It is submitted that a washing machine constructed in accordance withthe structural principles herein shown and described is aptly fitted forthe purposes intended, is simple and expedient, and otherwise suitableto achieve the desired ends.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding and impression oi the alleged features ofmeritand novelty sunlclent to clarify the construction of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size. materials and rearrangement of parts mayberesorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is'madefrom theinvention as claimed.

'41 claim:

said notches beine on a plane below the open t@v the lower end portionsof said partition walls ine apertured adjacent the tub bottom to provide water returns leading from the splllways back into the maincompartment, ap valves hingedly mounted for swinging on said partitionwalls and normally closing said apertures. a plunger comprising a headtted snugly in said main compartment, diametrically opposite marginaledge portions of said head being attened and in movable contact withsaid correspondingly flat partition walls, said head being provided withports, and ap valves hingedly mounted on the upper surface of said headand serving to close the ports, the last-named valves being adapted toopen on the down-stroke of the plunger' and adapted to closeautomatically on the up-stroke of said plunger:

HARRY LUNDELL.

REFERENCES crran The following references are of record in the ille o!this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS` Number Name Date 309,732 Neal Dec. 23. 1884368,383 Davis Aug. 16, 1881 1,077,330 Clarke Nov. 4, '1913 1,888,435Quackenbush Nov. 22, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Y Country Date 134,762Australia Sept. 25, 1933

